Molding and printing apparatus



Sept. 13, 1949. "7;. SCHAUB 2,481,691

MOLDING AND PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed May 25, 1944 7 Sheets-Shea}, 1

INVENTOR. Gama/v 6'. SCH/W5 ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1949. a. c. SCHAUB MOLDING AflD PRINTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 25, 1944 INVENTOR Guano/V C. SUI/W8 W ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1949. G, c, SCHAUB 2,481,691

MOLDING AND PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed May 25, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNE Y cio/wo/v C. SCI-MOB p 1949' v e. SCHAUB 2,481,691

MOLDING AND PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed May 25, 1944 '7 Shee ts-Sheet 4 ax INVENTOR.

$ Gama/v 6 SCHAUB BY V I ATTORNfY Sept. 13, 1949. e. c. SCHAUB MOLDING m) rnnmm APPARATUS Original Filed Bay 25, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Gonna/v 6T 5cm 1/5 dztg/ ATTORNEY Se t. 13, 1949' a. c. SCHAUB MOLDING AND PRINTING APPARATUS 7 Shee'ts-Sheet 6 Original Filed May 25, 1944 I28 184 ll! 12;

INVENTOR. .60Ro0/v 6! SCH/10B BY Wm ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1949. s. c. scHAuB 2,481,691

MOLDING AND PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed llay 25, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. GORDON C. Sal/we ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1949 MOLDING AND PRINTING APPARATUS Gordon 0. Schaub, Westfield, N. J., assignor to The Best Foods, Inc., New York, N. Y., a 'cor-' poration of New Jersey 1 Original application May 25, 1944, Serial No. 537,351. Divided and this application February 10,1949, SerialNo. 75,576

1'7 Claims. (01. 31-8) This is a divisional application of the copending application, Serial No. 537,351, filed May 25, 1944.

This invention relates to the production of plastic solid or semisolid materials and particularly to an improved method of and an apparatus for continuously and simultaneously molding and printing plastic solid or semisolid oleaginous comestibles such as margarine, butter, shortening, lard and the like.

In the production of plastic semisolid to solid oleaginous products such as margarine, the solidified mass of margarine, suitably worked, temperature-conditioned, and blended with the requisite seasoning and other materials, is passed through a molding apparatus, commonly known as a molder, wherein it is formed into a continuous strip, ribbon, or rod having the crosssectional shape (usually square or rectangular) desired in the finished product. This ribbon of margarine is expelled from the molder into a printing machine, usually termed a printer, which cuts the ribbon into the desired lengths or prints. These prints are then conveyed to a wrapping device or wrapper, which suitably wraps and packages them for distribution and sale.

It is desirable to so construct the molder and the printer that they can be operated continuously and synchronously as a unit assembly. Proposals looking toward the accomplishment of this objective have been made heretofore, but they have not been entirely successful because of various operating diiliculties which have arisen. In one instance, for example, such a combined apparatus designed to operate continuously involved the frequent and sudden starting and stopping of the molder with the result, inter alia, that the accompanying vibrations seriously interfered with the smooth performance of the apparatus.

Furthermore, in the operation 'of the printer, care must be taken that each print has the desired minimum weight for the particular size of product being made. This object is usually attained by so constructing the printer or so adjusting the margarine cutting means that each print weighs slightly more than the minimum desired amount. The result of such operation obviously represents a loss, which may average between 2 and 4% of the product sold and may range even higher. Any provision, accordingly, whereby this loss can be materially reduced will effect a substantial saving in the cost of producing margarine and similar oleaginous materials. It will be appreciated, of course, that this operating difficulty arises from the fact that a volume measure instea or a ei h mea ur u sed i c t 2 the ribbon of margarine into the individual prints.

One object of my invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved method of and an apparatus for continuouslyand synchronously molding and printing margarine and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved combination margarine molding and printing device which can be operated continuously and synchronously with a greater degree of accuracy in printing than heretofore possible and Which can be built at a smaller :cost than similar machines heretofore available.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved method of and an apparatus for continuously molding a mass of margarine into a ribbon ready for printing.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an improved molder which can be operated continuously even though the margarine or the like that it forms into the particular desired shape is only intermittently removed therefrom.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an improved method of and an apparatus for more accurately printing margarine and the like.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved printer for continuously printing margarine and the like at a high rate of speed and with a minimum of difference between the actual weight and the desired weight of each print.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a method of and an apparatus for molding, printing, and wrapping margarine and the like wherein the product is not touched or handled by the operators.

Further objects rand advantages of my invention will appear from the following description of preferred forms of embodiment thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation with parts in section of one form of embodiment of my improved combination molder and. printer.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the'line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line i -4 of Figure 3.

Figures 5, 6, '7, and '8 are vertical sectional views taken substantially along the lines 5-5, EB, '|-l, and 8-8, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is an end view of the printer shown in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a detail elevation with parts in section of the singleacting compressed air valve used with the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line IIH of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view, similar to that of Figure 11, through the double-acting compressed air valve used with the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 13 illustrates the relative positions of the cutting blades with respect to the strip of margarine as the latter is extruded from the molder and cut into prints by the printer.

Figure 14 shows the respective positions of the cams operating the compressed air valves controlling the movement of the cutting. blades, such positions corresponding tdthe, relative positions of the cutting blades shown in Figure 13.'

Figure 15 is an elevation with parts in section of a modified form of my improved printer.

Figure 16 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line-Hi-lfi of Figure 15. Figure 17 is an end view ofthe modified form of my improved printer shownin Figure 15.

Figures 18 and--19 respectively illustrate the relative positions of the cutting blades with respect to the strip of; margarine and of the cams in the operation of my modified printer shown in Figure 15;

" In accordance with my invention, there is provided acombination system for continuously and simultaneously molding and printing a plastic semisolid to solid, ol'eaginous material such as margarine and the like; This system includes va. molder and a printer which are designed to continuously operate as a synchronized single I unit that forms the margarine introduced into .the molder into a continuous ribbon which is expelled or extruded directly into the printer for the production of the. individual prints of margarine. The cutting operation. of the printer, although intermittenhis substantially continuous; and the molder is designed to operate continuously despite the intermittent interruptions in the continued movement of. the ribbonof margarine as it is expelled from the molder into the printer. -Preferably; the operation of the combined molder and printer is .synchronized with that of the wrapper into; which the prints of margarine are discharged so" that the molding, printing, and packaging steps are carried on smoothly and continuously.

Although my invention is applicable to the processing of various types of plastic semisolid to solid oleagi-nous materials'as already pointed out, for convenience only it will'be described in its application tothemanu-factureof margarine. It will be understood,- however, that the use of my invention is not necessarily so limited.

, -My improved apparatus consists of a molder, generally indicated at 20, and a printer,, generally indicated at 2i seeFigures Land 2), which are adapted and designed to continuously operate as a single unit in combination. and in synchronismwith each other; The molder 20 comprises a housing 22' containing-1a painof screw conveyors .2 3 carried'onshafitsfl This housing, which may consist of two intersecting cylindrically shaped surfaces and whicheis desirably designed to-closely fit thescrew conveyors; is'carriedon a platform 2-5-havingrside sl-ipporting pkate members 26 and end supporting plateemembers 2 1". In its top surface, housing-22 is provided with a hopper 28,

through which the tempered mass of solidified margarine emulsion is introduced into the'molder. A pair of multibladedzlongitudinal paddles 29 carried on shafts 30'journaled in bearings formed in opposite wallsof 28:serve: to force and 4 r fold the margarine into the path of screw conveyors 23 so that a continuous feed thereof is maintained. As shown in Figure 1, one end of each of these shafts 30 preferably; extends beyond the hopper wall in which it is'journaled. Although I have shown a pair of screw conveyors 23 and a pair of folding-in paddles 29, which arrangement I have found to be most satisfactory, I may use one or more than two of both the screw conveyors and the paddles if it is desirable to do so.

One end'of housing 22 is open for the passage therethrough of the margarine under the pressure of the screw conveyors into the extrusion nozzle or template 3I, the outlet of which forms the margarine into a continuous ribbon having a predetermined cross section, usually rectangular, as indicated in Figures 2 and 4. This extrusion nozzle is desirably provided with a jacket 32, through which a liquid tempering medium is circulated as by inlet 33 and outlet 34'. Preferably,

the reduction in cross section effected bythis nozzle is rather gradualsothat plugging ofthe nozzle and other operating interruptions can be avoided. a p

Housing 22 and nozzle 3| may be provided with flanges 3'6 and 31, respectively, whereby theymay be fastened together by anysuitable means (not shown). The other end of housing .22 is closed by plate 33, which may conveniently be an extension of one wall of hopper 28. This plate is provided with openings 39, through which shafts 24 pass. HousingZZ may, also be provided with v as shown in plate 27 and in the partition plate 5| parallel 7 thereto. Pulley is preferably a vari-pulley so that the speed of rotation of the screw con-, veyors 23 may be readily-and quickly adjusted when necessary. 7 In the formof embodiment shown (see Fig. 5), shaft carries a. sprocket 53, which drives sprocket 54 on shaft 55 by means of sprocket chain 56, SimilarlYQSprOcketET on shaft 55drives sprocket 58 on shaft 59'by means of sprocket chain 60. Shafts 55 and 59- are also journaled in bearings provided-in plates 21 and 5f. Itwill be apparent that, although one speed reduction system has been shown, any other suitable system may be used inplace thereof. v

Pinion 61' on shaft 59 drivesasecondspinion 62, which idles loosely on shaft i3 fastened in the .trunnions 64'- attached' to plate members 21' and 5|, respectively; and pinion '62 in turn drives a third pinion 65 carried by oneof the shafts 24',

the extensions of which are journaled in bearings 67' in gear casing or carriage 6'8 and the ends of which are carried in thrustbearings 69 in the opposite wall of such ca-sing. It will'be noted that shafts 24- ofscrew conveyors 23 are supportedentirely by the bearings in casing 68. The shaft 24 carrying pinion 65 also carries pinion 1|, which meshes with pinion 12 on the other shaft 24 so that the two screw conveyors 23' ro- Alternatively, protate in oppositedirections. vision mayfbe made to drive these screw con- Flanges 4|, 42, and 36 also serve to veyors in the same direction if it is-desirable to do so.

The wall of gear casing 68, in which the thrust bearings 69 are located, is provided with a lug or tongue extension 14, to whichthe bifurcated end of a piston rod 15 is attached as by pin I8 (see Fig. 2). This connection is desirably made a little loose to insure flexibility of movement. Pistonrod 15 is attached to piston 11, which slides in the pneumatic cylinder I8 under the influence of compressed air introduced thereinto through line 19'. Cylinder cap 80 is desirably provided with the vent 8|.

. Slide rails 82 (see Fig. 5) permit the gear casing .88 to slide back and forth in accordance with the movement of piston 11. These rails are attached in any appropriate manner as by welding to platform 25. For this purpose the longitudinal walls of casing 68 are provided with flanges 83, which rest on and move in corresponding shoulders in the respective slide rails 82. Members 84, which are preferably removably fastened to slide rails 82 as by bolts 85, serve to hold casing 88 in its sliding position." The pneumatic cylinder 18 may be conveniently supported by the U- brace 86 attached to the slide rails 82 as by bolts 81. As shown in Fig. 1 ,pinio'n82 is necessarily made wider than theother pinions since it must continue to drive piniont5 in any position that casing 68 assumes as well asduring the sliding movement of casing 68. j

j Paddles 29 may also beldriven from the same source of power (see Figs. Sand '7). To accomplish this purpose,,shaft 59 carries another pinion 88, which meshes with a second pinion 89 carried on a shaft 90 also journaled in bearings provided in the plate members 21 and 5|. Shafts 59 and 90 also carry sprockets 9| and 92, which respectively drive sprockets 93 and 94 on shafts 30 by means of sprocket chains95 and 96. Again, although the two paddles 29 are thus rotated in opposite directions, provision may alternatively be made to drive them in the same direction if it isdeslrable to do so.

The printer 2| (see Figs. 3 and 4) includes a tube 98, desirably rectangular in cross section as shown, which may be provided with a flange 99 for attachment in any convenient manner (not shown) to the flange I00 on extrusion nozzle 3I. The side walls of tube 98 are extended outwardly as at IIJI, and at their outer end these extended side walls are joined along their lower edges by a platform or support I02. Means (not shown) are desirably provided for the circulation of a liquid tempering medium through jacket I03 surrounding tube 98. The extended side walls IOI may also be so jacketed, but it has not been found necessary to do so.

A pair of reciprocating carriages, the upper one indicated generally at I04 and the lower one at I05, are positioned in the outlet end of tube 98 and between the extended side walls IN and are adapted for intermittent reciprocating movement therein. Each of these reciprocating carriages is identical in construction but will be described separately for convenience. The upper carriage includes a housing I04'a consisting of a pneumatic cylinder I06 and a chamber I0'I separated from each other by partition I08. Cover plate I09 is provided with the compressed air inlet IIO. A second compressed air inlet I I I is provided in the side wall of the cylinder near the bottom thereof. Two similar but oppositely disposed, right-angled substantially flat sliding members H2 and H3 are attached to the'bot'tonf of this cylinder housing as by insertion thereinto. These sliding members are preferably: *made hollow; and provision (not shown) is made for the circulation of a suitable liquid tempering medium through each member, which is provided with the necessary internal baffling (not shown) to insure proper circulation. The longitudinal edges of members 2 and H3 are adapted to slide in rooves H4 in the respective side walls of tube 98 and the extensions thereof.

Members H2 and H3 are so positioned that a narrow transverse space is provided between their upstanding portions, in which space a cutting member I I5, which may be variously termed a gate, blade, or knife, is adapted to slide. This gate is attached to piston rod II6, which is in turn connected to piston II! in cylinder I06. Chamber I01 accommodates the gate when it is in the raised or noncutting (disengaged) position. The cutting edge of this gate may be made dull as shown since the margarine is sufliciently plastic that it may readily be out without the use of a knife edge. A suitable stuffing gland is, of course, provided for the opening in partition I08, through which rod IIB passes, to prevent the leakage of air therethrough. Cylinder I00 and chamber I01 may be made integral as shown'or in two pieces if desired; and the sliding members may also be made integral with the cylinder housing.

The lower carriage likewise includes a housing I05a consisting of a pneumatic cylinder H8 and a chamber I I9 separated from each otherby-p'artition I20. Cover plate I2I is providedwith a compressed air inlet I22. A second compressed air inlet I23 is provided in the side wall of the cylinder near the top thereof. Two similar but oppositely disposed, right-angled substantially flat sliding members I24 and I25 are attached to the top of this cylinder housing, into which they may be inserted. These members are also preferably made hollow; and provision is made for the circulation of a suitable liquid tempering medium through each member, which is provided with the necessary internal ballling (not shown) to insure proper circulation. The longitudinal edges of members I24 and I25 are likewise adapted to slide in grooves I28 in'the respective side walls and extensions of tube 98.

Members I24 and I25 are also so positioned that a narrow transverse-space is providedbetween their upstanding portions, in which space a cutting gate or blade I2! is adapted to slide; This gate is attached to piston rod I28, which is in turn connected to the piston I29 in cylinder H8. Chamber I I9 accommodates this gate when it is in the lowered ornoncutting (disengaged) position (corresponding to the raised position for gate I I5). A suitable stufiing gland is, of course, provided for the opening in the partition I20, through which rod I28 passes. Cylinder H8 and chamber 1 I9 may also'be made integral as shown or in two pieces if desired.

Upper housing I04a is provided below cham ber I01 with lugs or flanges I30, to each of which is attached a rack I 3| that extends along'the upper edge of its respective side wall IOI. Similarly, lower housing IBM is provided above chamber II9 with lugs or flanges I32, to' each of which is attached a rack I33 that extends along the lower edge of its respective side Wall IOI. A gear I34 is provided on each side of tube 98 to engage racks I3I and I33. Each gear is attached to a stud I35, one end of which is. iournaled in a bear,

ing; lofiifixedimtheouter surfaceofside wallr Illi. 'Iheot-her end or each stud! extends through an opening iii-1 channel members I31 and is attached toia crank;v I31 Channel members 531' fit over the-lugs I; and I32 one housings Hide and' 15a, respectively, andrprovide auguide-for the racks t3-I-. and I-33-.-aswelL asanadditionalbearing suriacezfor studs I35. The outer end ofv each crank I38 is. provided with a: pin I39, which slidesin the slottedc portion I40 of. the: connecting rod MI; Alternatively,. pin: I39 maybe directly attached. to gear L34; Means such as screw i 32 may be provided inthe. upper end: of eachconnecting rod M I- to: vary thelengthof the slotted portion Mil. Each connecting: rod is attached at its lower end by'meansof pin. M3 to a second crank me, which iSiitSB1i attached to one end of shaft I45. This shaft'mayr be conveniently journaled in bearings I46 supported onbases I4-I: attached to supporting plate 21*.- Power to drive shaft hi5 may be furnished: from any suitable' source (not shown) through belt I48=passing over pulley H59- Shaft I (seeFig. 9) carries cams I53, I5I, and. I52, which respectively operate compressed air valves I 50a-,' I 5.-Ia,.and- I 52a. Each of these val-vesissupported on: a' base I53a, which may also be conveniently attached tosupporting plate 21. Inithis-formof embodiment ofmy invention, valve I500; is: desirably single-acting, and valves I5FIaand I-52w are desirably double-acting. Valve I500. (see Figs. 10 and 11) consists of a cylinder I53 and a valvestem I54 extending through the closed: ends of the: cylinder. This cylinder is provided with a compressed. air inlet I55, a compressed airoutlet: I56; and an exhaust vent i5'l. Cam follower I58: is kept in contact with the periphery of cam I50 through. the constant pressureexertedby coiled spring I59 against valve stenr I54, on which the cam follower rests. One endof the cam follower may be pivoted as at it in the lug I6 extending from the body of valve I5fla.. Valves I5I-a and I52a. (see Fig. 12) are similarin construction to valve I'5Ga but are provided with two eompre'ssediair inlets I 6-2 and I63, which may be branches of a common supply line I64, two' compressed air outlets I and IE5, and two exhaust vents IG 'I and Hi8. The compressed air inlets of the several valves may be conveniently supplied from the manifold line I69.

The outlet I56 from compressed air valve 150a is connected bya flexible tube (not shown) to the inlet 19' on pneumatic cylinder I8, which efi'ects the forward movement. of screw conveyors 23-. One of the'outlets from compressed air valve I'5I-a is connectedv by suitable flexible tubing (not shown) toinlet I In on cylinder I06, which opcrates the gate I I5, and the other outlet is similarly connected toinlet III on cylinder I06. One of the outlets from compressed air valve IBM is likewise: connected by suitable flexible tubing (not shown) to" inlet I22 on cylinder H8, which operates the gate I27, and the other outlet is similarly connected to inlet In on cylinder II8.

In the operation of this combined molder and printer, the tempered mass of solidified margarine emulsion is fed into hopper 28, wherein it is forced. and folded continuously into housing 22. Screw conveyors 23', which are continuously rotated, pick up the margarine and force it under compression into the extrusion nozzle 3I, which formsthe margarine into a continuous strip or ribbon I I0 having thedesired rectangular cross section. This continuous strip of margarine is extruded. from. nozzle 3I into tube 98, wherein itis engaged by the reciprocating carriages IIIIl 8 I105, the movable sates-of. whichintermittently. cut the strip of margarine i'nto prints anddise charge the. resulting prints. from the printer; Platform I02; which. may; convenientlg be made. of wood, supports, the margarine. prints as. they are pushed, and. displacedf'romrthe/ printer into a wrapping. machine- (not shown-in drawings);

Thestrip of margarine i'scut' into the desired prints bythe cuttinggat'es or blades I;I'5 andIIZT; which are operated. by means of. the pneumatic cylinders I116; and I1 8,. respectively" The relative positions of thesecutti'ng, gates duringtheseveral; stages of the cutting cycle are clearly shownrin Figure. 13. During, this entire cycle one orthe other of these. gates. always, blocks the passage,

defined bytube 9K;.its.extensions, and the reciprocating carriages so that there is a continuous baclc pressure. exerted on the st'ripof margarine being. extruded through nozzle. 3.I under the in.- fiuence of screw conveyors zii. Asuitabl'e liquid tempering. medium such as water at "-II)0 E." is desirably circulatedithrough the jacket around;

nozzle 31. and that'around tube as", and through the hollow portionsv of. the reciprocating carriages to reduce, theiricti'oncausediby the: extrusion and the expulsion of' the. margarine and, to therebyr prevent possible. plugging. of the-apparatus.

With. reference. to Figure I3; the stage. shown in Figure 13a,, the upper cutting. gateilili has been movedforwardla distanceequalto thewidth of print P, and the lowercutting gate. I21; has, been moved backward an; e.qua11distance.., In the stage shown in Figure 1'31; Tower'gatel'l'ljhas. been. moved into the cutting, position to. form print P and in that shown in Fig. 13s,, upper gate 5' has been moved outof the cutting. position leaving print- I? to lie-Wrapped and packaged by the wrapper. The. movements. of the. twogates are so synchronized in these two stages that gate I21 moves entirely intothe. cutting. position be. fore movement. of gate I15 fromcsuch. position is begun. The possibility of" formingnonuniform or tmutilated prints is thus substantially; elimina ed.

In. the stage shown in. Fig, 13. lower gate L21 hasv been moved forward. a. distance.- equal. to. the width of print1P which. has. displaced print P" towards the wrapper and itself now occupies. the space formerly taken up. by print 2, .andupper gate II'5 has been moved. backward'an. equal distance. In the stage shown .inFig..13e, the upper gate II5' has been. moved intothe cutting. position to form the print 13 andiin that. shown in Figure 131, lower gate. [11 has. been moved out p of. the cutting. position leaving. print B to be wrapped and packaged. Again, gate is-mo-ved into its cutting positionihefore. gate I21. is moved out of its cutting position.. The. cycle then repeated. the next stage. being. that, shown in Fig. 130,.

The cutting movements of the two gates are controlled bycams Hit and I.52,.whichrespective-- ly pneumatical-lyactuate: pistons H21 and. I229; in cylinders I06 and :8; whichin tum. respectively operate the'gates H5: anda $21. The. corresponding relative positions'of cams E51 and I 52, when the gates I 15 and I215 are inthe positions indi--" cated' in 13a to 1 39*, areshown in Figs. 14a, to 14f. The backward and forward movement of the reciprocating carriages respectively carrying cutting gates" I I5 and PM successively into their cutting and disengagi n-g positions is efiected by the alternate partial rotationof gears I34,

which are so moved by the-action of connecting we b se a s e i rods, I 4|, themselves actuated by the rotation of cranks I44 on. shaft I'4'5.

Necessarily, the operation .of the printer, although substantially continuous, is intermittent because of the timed movements of gates H and I21. Because of this condition, the extrusion of the continuous strip of margarine from nozzle 3| is also intermittent. The screw conveyors 23, which are rotated continuously, however, cannot then continuously force margarine through nozzle 3|; and, accordingly, while steadily forcing the margarine into nozzle 3I and against one or both of gates H5 and I21, they gradually screw themselves out of the compressed mass of margarine and force the gear casing 58, to which they are firmly attached, to slide backward along rails 82. The net effectmay be likened to that arising when a bolt loosens itself from a nut held in a fixed position. When either of the two gates I I5 and I21 is moved forward by the movement of either carriage I04 or I05, respectively, the screw conveyors also move forward and extrude another portion of the continuous strip of margarine through nozzle 3 I.

The forward movement of these screw conveyors is effected by means of piston 11, which is attached to gear casing 68 through piston rod 15 and which is pneumatically actuated through air valve I50a by meansof cam I59. During this forward movement the screw conveyors act much like a ram and, in fact, force the margarine through nozzle 3I under considerably pressure. The action of the-screw conveyors packs the particles of solidified margarine together whereby the margarine is delivered through nozzle 3| in a solid stream that isdevoid of airpockets. This forward movement isextremely rapid as compared to the slow backward movement when conveyors 23 screw themselves out of the compressed margarine. Cam I50 is so positioned with respect to cams I5I and I52 and itsoperation so synchronized with the operation of cams I5I and 552 that piston 11 is actuated only when either gate H5 or gate I21 is being moved forward, i. e., when gate H5 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 13a from that shown in Fig. 13f and when gate I21-is moved into the position shown in Fig. 13d from that shown in Fig. 130.

I In this connection it will be noted that the shape of cam I59 is different from that of cams I5I and I52, which are similar, since cam see must accomplish forward movement of screw conveyors 23 twice for each complete cycle of movement of the reciprocating carriages and since valve I5Ila is desirably single-acting and valves I'5Ia and I52q are desirably double-acting. The respective shapes .of these cams are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 14. .As already described, these cams are all desirably fastened on the same shaft together with cranks I44 so that the operation of thescrew conveyors, that of the reciprocating carriages, and that of the cutting gates can be fully. synchronized. Also, shaft M5 carrying these cams and cranks may desirably be driven from the wrapper as bymeans of belt I 38 and pulley I49 whereby the-molding, printing,

and wrapping operations can all be synchronized. In this manner thescrew conveyors 23 can be movement'o'f thefcontinuous strip. of margarine,

16 my invention, I can fproduee upwards of 60 or more uniform prints perfminutfi.

In this conn'ection"it is: tobejnoted that the rate at which the'screw conveyors force margarine into nozzle 3I desirably somewhat greater than'the rate at which'the resulting continuous strip of margarine extruded from nozzle 3| and then. cut into prints so' that the delivery of a full amount of'margarineto nozzle 3| and the production of uniformly shaped cuts are assured. This excess margarine'thus present in housing 22 does not, however, interfere with the operation of the molder and is continuously squeezed backward along the internal surface of the housing and between the two screw conveyors.

Accurate adjustment of cutting blades H5 and E21 so that the difference between the actual weight and the desired weight ofeach print is reduced to the very minimumis also permitted by my improved apparatus. This object is accomplished by varying the length'of the slotted portion I49 in connecting rods MI by adjusting the position of screws I42 whereby the distance that the reciprocating carriages lM'and I95 are moved with each revolution of shaft I45 is closely and carefully controlled. Although, in the form of my invention as described above, the distance that the reciprocating carriages are moved represents the width of. the desired'margarine print, it may also represent'the length or even the thickness thereof. s

A modified form of embodiment of my improved printer,.which is provided with only one reciprocating carriage, is shown in Figs. 15 to 1'1. Since many elements of both forms of my improved apparatus are the same, the same reference numbers will be used when itis convenient todoso. f

This modification includes "the rectangular cross sectional tube 98 provided with the extended side walls IIII and also provided with the extended top wall I1 I, which isdesirably jacketed as at I12. Attached to the outer end of this extended top wall is the stationary housing I13, which is similar in construction to the housing IBM in the reciprocating carriage III4 used' with the form of my invention previously described and which contains the upper cutting gate or blade I14.

Reciprocating carriage I15 containing cutting gate or blade I16 is positioned in the'outlet end of tube 98 and is adapted to move'in an intermittent reciprocatingmanner along the bottom wall thereof. The construction of this carriage is identical to that of reciprocating carriage I95a 5 shown in Fig. 4 except that, in Fig. 15, cylinder H8 is provided with outlet I23a below the raised position of piston I29 and with the vent I11. In addition, the flanges I32 extending from the upper portion of housing I15a are attached to the racks I18, which engage gears I3 l respectively carried on the ends of shaft I19 journaled in brackets I80 attached to or formed integrally with the bottom'wall of tube 98. Attached to one end of shaft I19 is the crank I38, the outer portion of which is provided with pin I39 adapted to slide in the slotted portion I40 of the connecting rod I4I.

Connecting rod I'4I is actuated by the rotation of shaft I45, to which are, attached cams ISI,

" d i q and F Pt the I82 and I83 respectively operating compressed operating difficulties otherwise involved, if the rotation'of the screw-conveyors is stopped intermittentlyinj'accoifdame with the intermittent air valves I8Ia, I82a, and I83a. .These valves may all be single-acting, and their construction is similar to that of valve I5Ila shown in detail in Fig. 10. As in the form of my invention preformof embodiment of viously described, valve IBIa isv connected by flexible tubing '(nlitQS'fiowhY'fO cylinder 18" which actuates the screw'coz veyors '23 in a forward direction. The" outlet fiiom lvalve l'82'a is connectedfiby suitable fieniblei'tubing (not shown) to inlet 1150 on 'cylinderfl'bliwhicli'operates the gate i174; and the outlet nomi valve T8321 is similarly connected toilflefij "llildfi'cyli'nder H8; which operates the gaittiilfli. 'A'fie'xible tubing connection T84 is profitf between outlet il'23a'on cylinder '8 and on cylinder 1'06.

There'la'tive iziosition'slof'cutting gates I14 and. 116 during theseveral tages of'the cutting cycle of thisrnodified Iii-in "r, "e clearly shown in Fig. "18. Again, duringth entire cycle, one of these gates Sis aiwayspos io' dla'c'ross 't'heipassage denneu by "tube 38 ts an extensions, and the reciprocatiiigcairriage (T5.

In the stage shownih 180, the lower cutting gate m has ji'ustbeenflmove'd backward a distance equal to e widthloiitheflprinttobe made. In the'st'age showhfihti'ig. 18b; gate :rre has been moved into the cutting position to form print P and in thaitSTibWh in Fig. 13C, theunher gate [14 has just been moved iout'of'the cutting position leaving print 1 to be wrapped and packaged. The move ent oftliese two gates 'is also so synehroni'zedthat' gate iln'fiibves'l'itiielyinto the cutting position b ore the disengagement of gate 1T4 begins; synchronization is desirably accompIishedbyth actuation of piston I29 by the introduction of compressed air through iiflet 1122 il'it o c'yli ilfii j'l'a immediately followed by the actuation of pistion H"! by diversion or the some, thehriutier; mdthe enema shown) can be completely synchronized; It win be obvious, howeventhatfat thesame-speeu of through tuhihg'fmfinto .cyiirider 10s or a portion.

of the eomoresse'apair introduced continuously into cylinder IIYBL g I "In the stage 's'howri'in Fig. 18d, lower gate 116 has been moved forward a distance equal 'to the Width of print P which .nas dismaced print P9 towards the wrapper and itself now occupies the space 'formerlytakeh' up-ihygprint P and in that shown 'inFig'. I8e,"1ipper ga'tefnl' has been moved into the cutting position and has thereby displacedl'ower g ate .Again, 'fthef'movements of thesetwoigates are .solsyfidhr'oniz'ed' that gate I 16 is moved out or 'thejcuiiting positiononly as gate 114 is moved into the 1' ame cutting position. Desirably' gate ZITB is" dispfiac'ed by gate 11 under the actuation of'piston flfi'l"bylconipressed air introduced through fifiltilflll.

Forward mevemeu of screw conveyors 23 is again effectedfonlyfiiiriii'gthe forward movement ofgate vlllifblit is' a'cud ibl ishe'id onlyonce for each complete .cycle o'f imovenient' of reciprocating carriage115. Camilfll 'isjalso so positioned on shaft" 145 with respect itocams I'M-and. "resend the operations of all three cams are so synchronized that piston "1.1 is actuated only 'When gate [T6 is being moved forward into the position shown in Fig. I

' show the .ielative positions of dams '182 and l83 corresponding, respectively, to the relative .positions of the cutting .gates shown in Figs. 18a to 18a. The shaiie'ofthe three .cams,'which are injected against the outer surface of .the gates in order to :perniit'eas'ieriseparation of tlriemar garine print therefr'gom. Preferably, the two ates areso' positioned Tthattheir inner surfaces are flush.

With this "modified form' of printer, accurate printing can alsobe' obtained; andtheoperations operation, this modified 'printer'wiliproduce only half as many p'r'ints' asthe form first described.

It will be apparentithatth'e'stationary' housing W3 maybe positibnedon'the bottom wallof tube 98 and'the'reciprocatingcarriage I15 on thetop Wall or that both may be positio'ned'on the side walls. Similarly, inthe *form of printer shown in Fig. 1,'bothreciprocating-carriages may'ibe'po- 'siti'oned on the sidewalls-flit is desirable or necessary to do so". Furthermore, in either form,

the two cutting gates are desirably, althoughnot necessarily, located in opposite fW'EillS of tube: 9.8.

It Will also befippfireiitiifiat theapplicaticnpf my invention is not necessaril "limited to the molding and printing :ofblastiu-ol-eaginous materials "but that my invention may 'aisobe applied '-to"the molding and'priritingof other semisolid to solid plastic -comestibles' suchas yeast, ice cream,

"and'the'iike.

Although T have "described preferred forms "of embodiment of my inventionyi'amnot necessarily limited'thereto; and onlythe limitations appearing in the claims appended hereafter should be i bon, means to opera-tesaifci cutting"'rmernloer, and

means to reciprocally slide sard-slidame'means within said tube for intermittentlycutting the ribbon into prints and for intermittently discharging the resulting "pririt's rrom'said tube.

2. In an apparatusfor "forming "a continuous ribbon of a'pl'astic'semisolid'to solid material into prints, a tube for the -passage of said ribbon, slid- -able means disposed in said "tube to engage -sa-id ribbon, a cutting'member adapted to transversely out said ribbon, means to'move-said cutting memher into and out of cor'ita'ct with said ribbon, means to reciprocally slide said slid'able means Within said tube at its outletier intermittent dis charge of the resulting printsfrom said-tube, and

means to synchronizethe movement -'of ='the-cutting member with the operation of=the slidable means. V

3. The apparatus *as-cIaimed in claim '2, in which -the-cuttingmeni ber is carried =by'*the slidable means.

4. In an apparatus for forming'a continuous ribbon of a plastic semisolid -to seiid niaterial into prints, a tube,"meanstopass- 'the continuous ribbon through said tubq slidable means-disposed within said tube *at its-outlet to engage said *ribban, a cutting member carried-by said-slidalile means and adapted-"t0 transverselycut saidf-ribbon, means to operatesaid -cuttingmember, and means to reciprocally slide sa'idfislidable means within said tube to! intermittentlyxcutting dihe ribbon into :prints and 2501' "intermittently 1discharging the resulting :prints :from said :tube.

5. In an apparatus 'IIEOI' tftorming a continuous ribbon of a plastic semisolid tosclidmateriallinto prints, 2. tube; mean-s \to pass the -continuousrib- .bon through said tube slidable means 'ldisposed .withinsaid tube atdts outletetoengage saidribbnn, arcutting member carried by said s'lidable means and adapted "to. transilifsly cutgsaid fi ibbon, means to operate said cutting member, means to 13 reciprocally slide said slidable means within said tube for intermittently cutting the ribbon into prints and for intermittently discharging the resulting prints from said tube, and means to prevent the passage of the ribbon through the tube except during the discharge of prints therefrom.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, which includes means to synchronize the operation of the ribbon-passing means with the discharge of the prints from the tube,

'7. In an apparatus for forming a continuous ribbon of a plastic semisolid to solid oleaginous material into prints, a tube, means to pass the ribbon through the tube, at least one of the walls of said tube terminating short of the others at the outlet of the tube, slidable means disposed within said tube at the outlet thereof and having a member to engage the ribbon and to form an extension for the short tube wall, means to reciprocally slide said slidable means forward and rearward within said tube, a cutting member carried by said slidable means and adapted to transversely out said ribbon, means to move said cutting member into and out of its cutting position in said ribbon, and means to synchronize the operation of the cutting-member moving means with that of the sliding-member reciprocating means whereby the cutting member is moved into its cutting position to form a print only at the rearward point of sliding of the sliding means and out of its cutting position for the discharge of a print only at the forward point of sliding of the slidable means.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which includes means to prevent the passage of the ribbon through the tube and means to actuate such last-mentioned means.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which includes a stationary member at the forward point of sliding of said slidable means adapted to prevent passage of the ribbon through the tube, means to actuate said stationary member to prevent the passage of ribbon through said tube, and means to synchronize the operation of said actuating means with that of the sliding member reciprocating means whereby the stationary member is actuated only at the forward point of sliding of said slidable means.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which.

includes means to adjust the sliding distance of said slidable means.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which includes means to move the ribbon-passing means forward only during the forward movement of the slidable means.

12. In an apparatus for forming a continuous rectangular cross-sectional ribbon of a plastic semisolid to solid oleaginous material into prints of predetermined size, a tube of rectangular cross section corresponding to that of said ribbon, one

of the walls of said tube being shorter than the i others, means to advance the ribbon through the tube, slidable means disposed within said tube at its outlet and having a relatively fiat portion to engage the ribbon and to form an extension of 'said short wall, means to reciprocally slide said slidable means forward and rearward within said tube at its outlet, a cutting member carried by said slidable means and adapted to transversely out said ribbon and to thereby block passage of the ribbon through said tube, means to move said cutting member into and out of its cutting position across said tube, means to actuate said outting-member moving means to move the cutting member into its cutting position only at the rearward sliding point of said sliding means and to move said cutting member out of its cutting position only at the forward sliding point of said slidable means, a stationary member at the forward sliding point of said slidable means, said stationary member also being adapted to block passage of the ribbon through said tube, means to move said stationary member into and out of its blocking position across said tube, and means to actuate said stationary-member moving means to move said member into its blocking position only when the slidable means is at its forward sliding point and to move said member out of its blocking position only when the slidable means is at its rearward sliding point, said stationary member displacing the cutting member at the forward point of sliding.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the thickness of the stationary member is less than that of the cutting member.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the cutting member moving means and the stationary-member moving means comprise compressed-gas operated pneumatic cylinders and which includes a connection between the two cylinders for the passage of compressed gas to move the stationary member out of its blocking position only after the cutting member has been moved into its cutting position at the rearward sliding point of said slidable means.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, which includes means to synchronize the operation of the ribbon-advancing means with that of the cutting-member moving means and that of the stationary member moving means whereby the ribbon is advanced through the tube only during the forward movement of the slidable means.

16. In an apparatus for forming a continuous rectangular cross-sectional ribbon of a plastic semisolid to solid oleaginous material into prints of predetermined size, a tube of rectangular cross section corresponding to that of said ribbon, one pair of the opposite walls of said tube being shorter than the other pair, means to advance the ribbon through the tube, a pair of slidable means each disposed within said tube at its outlet and each having a relatively fiat portion to engage the ribbon on opposite sides thereof and to form an extension of one of said short walls, means to reciprocally slide said slidable means forward and rearward within said tube at its outlet, a cutting member carried by each of said slidable means and adapted to transversely out said ribbon and to thereby block passage of the ribbon through said tube, means to move each of said cutting members into and out of its cutting position across said tube, and means to actuate each of said cutting-member moving means to move the cutting member into its cutting position only at the rearward sliding point of said sliding means and to move said cutting member out of its cutting position only at the forward sliding point of said slidable means, one or the other of said cutting members always blocking the passage of the ribbon through the outlet of said tube.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, which includes means to synchronize the operation of the ribbon-advancing means with those of the cutting-member moving means whereby the ribbon is advanced through the tube only during the forward movement of the slidable means.

GORDON C. SCI-IAUB.

No references cited. 

